A new bridge that will connect Old Sacramento to downtown is scheduled to open on Thursday.

A new bridge that will connect Old Sacramento to downtown is scheduled to open on Thursday.

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Updated: 11:05 PM PDT Aug 30, 2016

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WEBVTT SACRAMENTO WITH THE CHANGE ON THE WAY. TOM: THIS SIMPLE FIX COMES WITH A BIG NAME. IT'S ESSENTIALLY THIS WELL-PLACED BRIDGE. THE RIVERFRONT RESTORATION PROJECT IS ESSENTIALLY THIS WELL-PLACED BRIDGE. THE IDEA IS THAT IT'LL GIVE OLD TOWN BOTH EASY ACCESS AND A NEW GRAND ENTRANCE. THIS IS THE NEW SIGHT THAT'LL GREAT YOU ON YOUR WAY INTO OLD SACRAMENTO. AND HERE'S HOW YOU'LL GET THERE. CURRENTLY, THE DESTINATION REQUIRES A TRIP DOWN I STREET PAST A PARKING LOT AND UNDER INTERSTATE FIVE, OR THROUGH THIS EASY TO MISS TURN OFF CAPITOL AVENUE. >> YOU CAN GET STOPPED UP FOR QUITE A WHILE. TOM: NAVIGATING OLDTOWN IS SOMETHING CRYSTAL NEWBORN KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT. >> ON THE WEEKENDS IT CAN GET A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY ON THE EVENINGS BETWEEN CRUISING CARS AND PEOPLE GOING OUT FOR DINNER. MIKE: BUT THE NEW ACCESS POINT PROMISES TO MAKE IT EASIER, LEON OFFICE IS ALREADY TAKING ADVANTAGE ON HIS LUNCH BREAK. THE PROJECT IS COSTING TAXPAYERS $13.5 MILLION WITH THE OPENING COMING JUST MORE THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE NEARBY GOLDEN ONE CENTER OPENS. THE IDEA IS THAT IT'LL CONNECT OLD TOWN WITH THE RESTAURANTS AND ATTRACTIONS DOWN BY THE RIVERFRONT. ULTIMATELY MAKING ACCESS EASIER FOR PEOPLE GETTING BOTH ON AND OFF CAPITOL MALL FIREHOUSE RESTAURANT GENERAL MANAGER MARIO ARTIZ BELIEVES IT'LL HELP LURE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS. >> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TOURISTS THAT SEE THAT, WELL I WANT TO MAKE A TURN BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO INDICATE THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE. MIKE: FOR NEWBORN, IT'S ABOUT EASING CONGESTION. >> THE BRIDGE COMING IN HERE IT'S GOING TO MAKE TRAFFI C FLOW A LOT EASIER. MIKE: ALL THANKS TO A BRIDGE CONNECTING THE OLD WITH THE NEW. THE BRIDGE OFFICIALLY OPENS THURSDAY BUT DON'T GO RACING DOWN YET. IT'S ONLY OPEN TO PEDESTRIANS THROUGH LABOR DAY ONLY THEN CAN CARS BEGIN TO USE IT. LIVE IN SACRAMENTO, TOM MILLER, KCRA 3 NEWS. KELLIE: TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT TIME. WHY IS IT ONLY OPEN TO PEDESTRIANS TO BEGIN WITH? TOM: LABOR DAY COINCIDES WITH GOLD RUSH DAYS SO THERE'LL BE A LOT A PEOPLE OUT HERE, THERE ACTUALLY IS ONE VEHICLE ALLOWED

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Connecting Old Sac to downtown: New bridge opens soon

A new bridge that will connect Old Sacramento to downtown is scheduled to open on Thursday.